The Action of Ionizing Radiation on Protein: II. Radical Formation in L-Tryptophan·HCl

Abstract

The radicals produced by X-irradiation in L-tryptophan.cntdot.HCl crystals were analyzed by ESR spectroscopy. Three radicals were identified. The radical resulting from deamination, the H-addition radical at position C4 of the indole ring and the radical resulting from H abstraction from the nitrogen N1 of the indole ring. These identifications are based on specific deuteration of the indole protons and on INDO [intermediate neglect of differential overlap] calculations.